Culture & Entertainment

3 lessons Devin Cuddy learned from his dad, Jim Cuddy

Culture & Entertainment

3 lessons Devin Cuddy learned from his dad, Jim Cuddy

For our June issue, I had the opportunity to talk to musician Devin Cuddy about his upcoming album with
The Devin Cuddy Band and about what it’s like to be the son of Blue Rodeo’s
Jim Cuddy. Though Devin has largely made his own way as a blues- and country-inspired artist, he owes a lot to his
dad, who taught him many career and life lessons over the years. Now, as Devin and his band are making it big, Devin says of his dad, “I think he’s trying to offer me advice when I look for it, but never push me into anything. He has seen us play many, many times, and is really supportive. But I think now that I’m really jumping into his world he’s kind of excited and helping us out and giving us advice. It’s been great.” Here are three important lessons Devin Cuddy learned from his dad.
1. Learn to play the piano Devin says he and his siblings were “forced” to take piano lessons as kids, because their parents wanted them to learn the basics of music. “Piano is sort of the instrument that’s at the centre of all instruments. You have to learn a lot of theory before you can transfer that learning into different instruments. [Our parents] said to us, ‘You know, you’ll never meet anyone who regrets having taking piano lessons.’ We didn’t really buy that at the time, but now I think so,” says the Juno nominated piano player and singer.
2. Be a professional “Professionalism, being patient and friendly all the time—that’s the stuff I’ve seen my entire life when people see my dad on the street,” says Devin, reflecting on his memories of his rock-star dad when he was growing up. “It means more to me now than it did back then. It sticks with me, and I try to put it into practice.”
3. Don’t stray too far from your roots Blue Rodeo is known for giving Canada all kinds of love, by largely staying north of the border and visiting even small-town Canada to put on major concert hall—worthy shows. Now Devin knows the value of being part of a truly Canadian band. “Meeting people in small towns they say, ‘Thank you so much. Blue Rodeo meant so much to us and they’re the only band that ever came to this town.’” On their past tour, the Devin Cuddy Band did 34 shows across Canada, but Devin says Blue Rodeo has been known to do 88 in Canada. “Those places are important to them. And I was raised a patriot. If I have opportunities in the States I would take those, but I wouldn’t move there or make that my focus.” Read more about
Devin Cuddy and his dadand get
ideas for celebrating Father's Day.
(Photography: Aaron Cobb)